Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 21/7/117
Beatrice M. Bruner Dowd (1924-1998)
Papers, 1900-1994, n.d.


Descriptive summary

creator:

Dowd, Beatrice M. Bruner (1924-1998)
title:

Papers
dates:

1900-1994, n.d.
extent:

6.83 linear ft. (5 document boxes, 3 oversize boxes, and 1 map case folder)
collection number:

RS 21/7/117
repository:

Archives of Women in Science and Engineering, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research
publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:

Beatrice M. Bruner Dowd Papers, RS 21/7/117, Archives of Women in Science and Engineering, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note

Beatrice M. Bruner Dowd was born on July 3, 1920, in Rolfe, Iowa. She earned her B.S. (1941) in Mathematics from Iowa State College (University). Dowd worked for Central Life Assurance Society in Des Moines, Iowa, for two years while attending Iowa State. In 1943, Dowd enlisted in the United States Navy. She was sent to the University of California at Los Angles to attend Meteorological School and worked as a Naval Weather Forecaster until her discharge in 1947.

Dowd became employed by Sylvania Electrics Products as an electronics technician in 1958. When Sylvania Electrics Products changed to GTE Government Systems, she became the Engineering Section Head. She was later appointed to the position of Engineering Department Manager. Dowd retired from GTE Government Systems in 1986. She specialized in data processing, modeling and simulation, and software development.

Dowd belonged to the Association of Old Crows (AOC), an organization related to the Electronic Warfare profession. Electronic Warfare (EW) is the art and science of using the electromagnetic spectrum (from direct current to light) for military advantage. In the AOC, Dowd served as Secretary, President, and as a Board Member for the Golden Gate Club from 1976-1981. She was a member of the Convention Committee (1982-1983) and was elected as the Northern Pacific Regional Director (1983). She also served a three year term as the National Director (1984-1987). Dowd received Certificates of Merit from the AOC (1980 and 1983), and was awarded the AOC Special Medal (1988).

Dowd died in Los Altos, California on August 11, 1998. 

 

Collection description

The collection (1900-1994) contains correspondence, course notes and papers, materials related to her professional career, news clippings, publications, and ephemeral materials. The collection also has materials related to Dowd's time at Iowa State including concert and VEISHEA programs, certificates, and memorabilia.

 

Organization

The collection is listed alphabetically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

2

10

Association of Old Crows: "Not Videbunt! A History of the First 25 Years"

1964-1989

8

2

Association of Old Crows: Certificates and Professional Management Seminar Certificate of Completion

1970-1980, n.d.

Artifact Collection

 

Association of Old Crows: Commemorative Coins and Name Badges, Other Awards (Artifacts 99-0065)

1979-1988, n.d.

2

6

Assorted Cartoons

1945-1946, n.d.

5

2

Correspondence

1900-1983

5

3

Correspondence

1937

5

4

Correspondence

1938

5

5-6

Correspondence

1939

5

7-8

Correspondence

1940

5

1

Correspondence

n.d.

1

1

Course Work: Aerology: Exams, Papers, and Notes

n.d.

1

2

Course Work: Industrial Engineering 249: "An Engineering Problem Involving Bioclimatology"

n.d.

1

3

Course Work: Math 113: Linear Algebra, Notes

1968

1

4

Course Work: Math 217A: Statistics - Notes

1968

1

5

Course Work: Math 217B: Statistics - Notes

1968

1

6

Course Work: Math 300: Theory of Equations - Notes

n.d.

1

7

Course Work: Math 314: Differential Equations and Projective Geometry - Notes

n.d.

1

8

Course Work: Math 315: Differential Equations - Notes

n.d.

1

9

Course Work: Math 514: Advanced Calculus - Notes

n.d.

1

10

Course Work: Math 515: Advanced Calculus - Notes

n.d.

2

1

Course Work: Micrometer Caliper Workbook - Notes

n.d.

2

2

Course Work: Theory of Equations - Notes

n.d.

2

11

GTE Government Systems: Quarter Century Club, 29th Annual and 35th Annual Dinner-Dance

1995, n.d.

8

3

GTE Newsletters: GTE Sylvania News and Systems News

1978-1986

2

13

GTE Sylvania: Notes of Job Opportunities

1958-1985

2

12

GTE: Awards, Experimental Problem, Memorandum, Thomas Crawford's Retirement Speech, Newsletters, Articles, and Memoranda

1962-1985

6

1

Invitations to Dinner Parties (Oversized)

n.d.

2

5

Iowa State University Alumni Association: "Iowa State University Alumni: Remember D-Day, 1944" Booklet

1994

2

4

Iowa State University Alumni Association: Alumni Day 1991, Iowa State Class of 1941, Booklet, and Golden Diploma

1991

2

3

Iowa State: Campus Views of Iowa State College, Greetings to the North Central District of the Iowa High School Music Association

1934

6

3

Iowa State: Memorabilia and Souvenirs (Oversized)

n.d.

6

2

Iowa State: Pamphlets, Brochures, and Flyers (Oversized)

1938-1940, n.d.

2

8

IOWINGS: U.S. Naval Air Station, Ottumwa, Iowa: Newsletter Volumes 2-4

1945-1946

Map

case

Naval Weather Charts, Retirement Card, and Poster (Map Case)

1988, n.d.

2

7

News Articles

1944-1978, n.d.

7

1

Paper and Weather Charts (Oversized)

1941, n.d.

4

4

Publication: "Fog and Investigations of Selected European Cyclones by Means of Serial Ascents," Department of Meteorology

1940-1943

3

2

Publication: "Further Studies of American Air-Mass Properties," by Albert K. Showalter, Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office

1939

4

7

Publication: "Sketch," Iowa State College, Volume VII Number 3

1941

4

1

Publication: Aerology Series, "Masses and Fronts (Number 4)" and "The Equatorial Front (Number 9)"

n.d.

4

6

Publication: Manual for Office Students of the United States Naval Reserve and Air Navigator's Handbook U.S.N.

1943-1945

4

8

Publication: Technical Manual, "Basic Weather for Pilot Trainees," War Department

1942

4

9

Publication: Technical Manual, "The Weather Observer," War Department

1942

4

2

Publications: "Barometers and the Measurement of Atmosphere Pressure; Instructions for Airway Meteorological Service; Preparation and Use of Weather Maps at Sea; Vapor Pressure, Relative Humidity, and Temperature of the Dew Point; Instructional for Making Pilot Balloon Observations," U.S. Department of Commerce

1941

4

3

Publications: "Codes for Cloud Forms and States of the Sky; Forecasting from Synoptic Weather Charts; Glossary of Meteorological Terms," U.S. Department of Agriculture

1936-1939

4

5

Publications: "Fleet Air Way 4 Summer Fogs and Winter Winds of the Aleutian Islands," and "History of Golden Gate Club"

1966-1985, n.d.

2

9

U.S. Naval Air Station, Ottumwa, Iowa: Booklet and Bulletins

1945-1946, n.d.

3

1

United State Naval Material on Condensation, Fog, and Visibility: Physics of Condensation and Precipitation

n.d.

3

5

United State Naval Material on Forecasting

n.d.

3

6

United State Naval Material on Thunderstorms, Synoptic Meteorology, and Neuberger

n.d.

3

4

United State Naval Material on Weather Forecasting: Lectures in the Elements of Synoptic Meteorology

1943

2

16-17

United States Naval Course Work: Problems and Exams for the Navy

1943-1944, n.d.

2

14

United States Naval Material on Aerographer's Manual: Forms, Correspondence, and Filing Instructions

n.d.

2

15

United States Naval Material on Atmospheric Electricity

1944

3

8

United States Naval Material on Radiation

n.d.

3

9

United States Naval Material on Regional Climatology

n.d.

3

10

United States Naval Material on Terminal Weather on San Francisco-New York Air Way

n.d.

3

11-14

United States Naval Material on Thermodynamics

n.d.

3

15

United States Naval Material on Tropical Meteorology

n.d.

3

7

United States Naval Qualifications for Aerographer's Mates and Photographer's Mates

n.d.

3

16

United States Naval Training Division's Humorous Training Cards and Famous Last Lines (folder 1 of 2)

1945-1946 ca.

8

1

United States Naval Training Division's Humorous Training Cards and Famous Last Lines (folder 2 of 2)

1945-1986, n.d.

2

18

United States Navy Climatology Tests: "Synoptic Meteorology: Lectures in the Structure of the Troposphere and in Climatology," by Margaret Whitcomb

1944